From Recycled Paper to a Text About the Concept of Cycle
(ASSIGNMENT: company profile brochure, 15.5x22.5 inches, 1993)
Many of my projects involve early-stage discussions with designers about the development of imagery, or even the entire design direction of the work. One example is a corporate profile brochure that created for Polytrade, a fine paper distributor. The designer for the project was my good friend Lilian Tang, with whom I’ve collaborated on numerous projects.
I suggested making the most of the format by using the full sheet of the paper for a spread, creating an oversized booklet. When unfolded, each spread could also function as a poster. Four creatives contributed to the project, including Lilian herself, along with Li Kam Fai, Holly, and me. Each of us was responsible for a specific theme, and mine was recycled paper.
For my section, I photographed four circular objects and overlaid with a piece of handwritten text. The content of the text had to center on the concept of cycle, which was the most challenging aspect of the task. My usual creative process involves allowing ideas, thoughts, and actions to brew and take shape in my mind before releasing them all at once in one moment. While the result may seem spontaneous, it remains well in controlled—much like writing Chinese calligraphy. Although it appears freehand, it is anything but random.
The text I wrote was inscribed in pencil on a small piece of paper, approximately 2 by 3 inches. It was composed directly from my mind, not transcribed, retaining the flow of thought and its natural rhythm. The difficulty lay in completing the entire text within the constraints of the paper while ensuring no space was left at the end—a visual design requirement. This small piece of paper was later enlarged to about 30 inches wide during production. The text was printed in gold, layered over the photograph.
Unfortunately, I didn’t retrieve the original small manuscript after the design company processed it for printing. The design company printed 50 additional copies for me, with blank backs. I selected 40 of these, numbered, and signed them. This offset printed work, an original, measures 25 by 31 inches.
從環廻再造紙到關於環廻意念的文本
我的工作有不少都是在開始的階段就與設計師商討，圖像的發展方向。甚至，整個設計物的方向。為友邦紙行所做的一份公司簡介冊子便是一例。設計師是Lilian Tang，我們是好友，也合作過不少個案。我建議盡跨張之能事，用整張紙的開度為對頁，做個特大的冊子。分折開來，每通頁又可以是一張海報。四個創作人，包括Lilian本人做封面，其他包括李錦煇，楚喬及我。每人均分配經營一個主題，我負責的是環廻再造紙。我拍了四個旋轉圓形物，版面上再疊上一段手寫的文字。文字的內容要環繞著環廻的意念。其實這個是當中最具挑戰性的部分。我的一貫創作方式是把意念，想法，行使等都放在心中醖釀及組織，然後在一個適當的瞬間，就拼發展現開來。看起來很即興，但還都要在控制的範圍內，這個很像寫中文書法的方式。寫的是意筆，但絕對不是隨意。我寫的一段文字，是以鉛筆寫在一張約2乘3吋的紙上。文字是即時從腦中寫出，而不是抄本。因此行文間也保留了思考的過程及起伏。難度是整篇文字要在該紙上寫完，而且最好是能夠在末端不留空間，這個是從設計的角度，畫面上的需要。這張2乘3吋的小紙，在制作時會放大至橫30吋許。文字印以金色，疊蓋在照片之上。很可惜經設計公司制版之後，我沒有討回這張小原稿。設計公司替我另印了50張，背面空白。我選了40張，編號及簽名。這張柯式印刷版原作，25x31吋。